Aaron Farinacci, charged with igniting one of the devastating wildfires in Spokane, Washington, allegedly planned the crime weeks in advance. He researched the weather conditions favorable for fire ignition, according to police reports. Farinacci, 37, is accused of sparking the Old Trails fire, which is among three blazes that devastated the Spokane area, destroying over 850 buildings and displacing thousands.
Detective Michael Drapeau revealed in court documents that Farinacci, during an interview, described fire as ‘powerful and beautiful,’ suggesting that he associated fire with rebirth. Despite initially denying involvement, Farinacci later confessed to starting the Old Trails fire and others recently, leading to additional arson charges.
Farinacci faces charges for four smaller fires set last summer and last month. He was scheduled for arraignment on five first-degree arson charges but his attorney requested a competency evaluation first. Spokane Superior Court Judge Jeremy Schmidt agreed to review this request and set a bond at $2 million, citing Farinacci as a risk to public safety and a flight risk due to potential violence.
Farinacci reportedly researched a notable serial arsonist and bought supplies to construct a ‘time delay device’ using notebook paper, matches, a cigarette, and a rubber band. He confessed to timing the fire start for a day with strong winds of 50 mph, yet claimed he did not foresee the extent of the blaze.
Paul Child, a local resident driving with his grandson, noticed Farinacci’s suspicious behavior near the fire site, contributing to his arrest.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels stated that the destruction prevents residents from safely returning home for several weeks. Farinacci admitted to igniting 25 other fires near his apartment complex during the summer of 2025, including the Aubrey White and the Meenach fires.
Farinacci’s criminal history includes a decade-long prison sentence for killing his father in 2010, for which he pled guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault. Concerns about his mental health have been raised consistently by his lawyer throughout his legal proceedings.
Reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this story through the Associated Press.